Abstract:
CREATING NEW NERF DARTS USING POLYMERS. Zach Rice and Taylor Billeadeau. The purpose of this investgation was to attempt to find a more effective foam projectile comparable to the original Nerf brand dart. In this experiment, the chemistry of polymers was applied in creating different materials to manufacture the body and the end of the darts. Additionally, different materials were used to increase the stickiness of the dart, which were a slime polymer and a glue-like polymer. These two polymers were then tested at the end of the dart for how long they actually stuck to a sheet of plexi-glass from a distance of 4 metres away. The other two polymers used at the base of the dart were a polyurethane foam and store-bought 'Floam' brand molding foam. The results of this experiment were that the original Nerf dart and the glue-like polymer stuck the longest, at a time of over 3 minutes, and provided the most effective combination. However, that combination stuck almost too long, the entire weekend, and may be impossible to remove in a realistic situation. In conclusion, the original Nerf brand dart was most effective and most logical.
Apparatus Pictures:
Figure 1. The test tubes and making of the polyurethane foam.
Figure 2. The plexi-glass apparatus for testing the darts. Summary Graphic:
Figure 3. This graph shws the time-test results in terms of the dart used.
CREATING NEW NERF DARTS USING POLYMERS. Zach Rice and Taylor Billeadeau. The purpose of this investgation was to attempt to find a more effective foam projectile comparable to the original Nerf brand dart. In this experiment, the chemistry of polymers was applied in creating different materials to manufacture the body and the end of the darts. Additionally, different materials were used to increase the stickiness of the dart, which were a slime polymer and a glue-like polymer. These two polymers were then tested at the end of the dart for how long they actually stuck to a sheet of plexi-glass from a distance of 4 metres away. The other two polymers used at the base of the dart were a polyurethane foam and store-bought 'Floam' brand molding foam. The results of this experiment were that the original Nerf dart and the glue-like polymer stuck the longest, at a time of over 3 minutes, and provided the most effective combination. However, that combination stuck almost too long, the entire weekend, and may be impossible to remove in a realistic situation. In conclusion, the original Nerf brand dart was most effective and most logical.
Apparatus Pictures:
Figure 1. The test tubes and making of the polyurethane foam.
Figure 2. The plexi-glass apparatus for testing the darts.
Summary Graphic:
Figure 3. This graph shws the time-test results in terms of the dart used.
Audacity:
Journal Articles:
Ashbook, Peggy. 2006. Prime Slime. Science Reference Center. 00368148.
http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.elm4you.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sch&AN=19814490&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live
Asan, Yasuhiro. 2001. Preparation and Physical Properties of Saccharide-Based Polyurethane Foams. Science Reference Center. 9781855735453.
http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.elm4you.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sch&AN=23471038&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live